Have Ye Not Observed the Steadiness of Thy Brother?

Yesterday I wrote about Alma’s words to Corianton when he questioned, “Have ye not observed the steadiness of thy brother, his faithfulness, and his diligence in keeping the commandments of God? Behold, has he not set a good example for thee?” I suggested that we should not be so quick to judge Alma for the way he asked Corianton to look to the example of Shiblon and that this may have very well been an important part of Corianton’s repentance. As I have pondered this more, I believe there is also some symbolism in the experience of these two brothers who went among the Zoramites to preach. One was righteous and “wast in bonds” and “wast stoned for the word’s sake” but did “bear all these things with patience” (Alma 38:40). The other “forsook the ministry” and did “go on unto boasting in [his] strength and [his] wisdom” (Alma 39:2). Surely Shiblon, who left his home to go and preach to the Zoramites—suffering rejection and persecution and physical cruelty with patience and faithfulness—can be seen as a type of the Savior. And could not Corianton, who with good intentions also went to the land of Antionum to preach but failed to be faithful, be a representation of all of us?

               When we see these two brothers representing the Savior and ourselves, then I believe Alma’s counsel to Corianton takes on an important meaning for all of us. We can see Alma’s injunction to observe the steadiness and faithfulness and diligence of a brother as an invitation to each of us to behold the righteousness of our divine Brother, the perfect Son of God who suffered on earth for us all. Ultimately as disciples our goal is to follow the “good example” set for us by Jesus Christ who led a sinless life. As Nephi put it, we need to “follow the example of the Son of the living God” (2 Nephi 31:16). We may not have sinned in the same grievous way as Corianton, but we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God; we sometimes forsake our ministry for the things of the world and get lifted up in the pride of our hearts. So we are all like Corianton to some degree, and we too need to look to our Brother who suffered for the word’s sake and for our sake. Like Corianton, we “stand in need to be nourished by [our] brother” the Savior. We must work to “give heed to [His] counsel” and “counsel with [Him] in [our] undertakings” (Alma 39:10). When seen in this light, we can instead of finding fault with Alma’s counsel to Corianton humbly ponder his question for ourselves: “Have ye not observed the steadiness of thy brother [Christ], his faithfulness, and his diligence in keeping the commandments of God? Behold, has he not set a good example for thee?” We must al learn like Corianton to behold the righteous example of a brother and seek with all our hearts to follow it.